The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1887-11-25
az want some red Calico" said to young

Il want some rcu CallCO, L salu 10 young
man.
Furniture goods ?" he asked
yes" said |.
Fourth counter to the left"
Invent TO the fourth counter to the left,
and showed my sample TO a salesman. He
looked at it and said:
you'll get this down on the first floor
calico department"
| | turned on my heel, descended on the ee-
vatoI, and went out Broadway. l was
thoroughly sick OF red calico, but determin-
ed to make one more trial. My wife had
bought her red calico not long before, and
there must be some to be had somewhere l
ought TO have asked her where she bought
1t, but thought simple little thing like
that could be bought anywhere.
| went into another large dry goods store.
AS entered the store a sudden tremor
seized me. | could not bear to take out that
| piece of red calico. If | had any other kind
of rag about me-pen-wiper or anything of
the sort, l think would have asked them
| il they could match that
But stepped up to woman and present
ed my sample with the usual question.
Back room, counter on the left" she
said.
went there
Have you any red calico like this ?" l
asked of the lady behind the counter
mo, sir, "Yhe said, "but we have it in
Turkey red.'
Turkey red again / surrendered.
IAN right3' ! said; "give me Turkey red"
"EIOw much, sir ? she sAid.
81 don't know-say five yards"
The lady looked at me rather strangely, but
measured of five yards Turkey red calico.
Then she wrapped on the counter and call
nd ant "a Ia r;rl Yxrttl, oil
hair in two long plaits came slowly up. The
lady wrote the number of yards, the name of
the goods, her own number, the price, the
amount of the bank note handed her, and
same bther matters, probably the color of my
eyes and the direction and velocity of the
wind, on slip of paper. She then copied
all this in little book which she kept by
her. Then she handed the slip of paper, the
money and the Turkey red to the yellow
haired girl. This young girl copied the slip
in little book she carried, and then she
went away with the calico, the paper slip
and the money.
After very long time-during which the
little girl probably took the goods, the
money and the slip to some central desk,
where the note was received, its amount and
number entered in book, change given to
the girl, copy of the slip made and entered,
Blll ) tutIy cAuullueu anu NppTOVeu, BOOuS
wrapped up girl registered, plaits counted
and entered on slip of paper and copied by
the girl in her book, girl taken TO hydrant
and washed, number of towel entered on
paper slip and copied by the girl in her book,
value OF my note and amount of change
branded somewhere on the child and said
process noted on slip of paper and copied
in her book-the girl came to me, bringing
the change and the package of Turkey red
calico.
had time for very little work at the office
that afternoon, and when | reached home l
handed the package of calico to my wife,
She unrolled it and exclaimed:
Why, this don't match the piece l gave
you !"
match it?" l cried. "Oh, no it don't
match it. You don't want that matched
You were mistaken. What you wanted was
Turkey red-third counter to the left. l
mean, Turkey red is what they USE"
My wife looked at me in amazement, and
then detailed to her my troubles.
"Wel," said she This Turkey red is great
deal prettier than what had, and you've got
so much of it that needn't use the other at
all wish had thought of Turkey red be-
fore.
81 wish from my heart you had, 1 re-
piled"